Grouping in GIS, particularly in platforms like ArcGIS Online as indicated by the reference, is a key way to organize content and manage sharing among specific users or teams. It allows you to create a collection of items (like maps, apps, data, etc.) and control who can view or contribute to that collection.
What is Grouping in GIS?
Grouping in a GIS context means creating a defined collection of users and content within a platform or project. It serves primarily for:
- Organization: Keeping related content together in one easily accessible place.
- Collaboration: Providing a shared space for team members to access and work with specific resources.
- Sharing Control: Managing who can see, access, or contribute to certain GIS items, making sharing more targeted than just sharing publicly or within an entire organization.
How to Create a Group (Based on ArcGIS Online Reference)
Based on the process shown in the provided reference, creating a group in ArcGIS Online involves several steps to define the group and its permissions.
Here are the typical steps:
- Initiate Group Creation: Navigate to the section in your GIS platform (like ArcGIS Online) where you can create new groups.
- Name the Group: Give your group a descriptive name. According to the reference, an example name used was "volcano. Project". Choose a name that clearly reflects the group's purpose or content.
- Provide Summary and Tags:
- Add a Summary that briefly describes the group and its objectives.
- Include Tags (keywords) that help others find your group when searching. These are important for discoverability within your organization.
- Set Group Permissions: Define the rules for the group. This includes answering crucial questions that set up how the group will function. A key question mentioned in the reference is determining "Who can view this group". Other permission settings might include:
- Who can join the group?
- Who can contribute content to the group?
- How group content is shared (e.g., items shared with the group are also shared with the organization or public)?
- Finalize Creation: Complete the process by saving your group settings.
Why Use Groups in GIS?
Using groups offers significant benefits for managing GIS projects and content:
- Streamlined Collaboration: Teams working on a specific project can have all necessary maps, data layers, apps, and documents in one group, making collaboration efficient.
- Targeted Sharing: Instead of sharing content with your entire organization or the public, you can share specifically with the members of your group, ensuring only relevant individuals have access.
- Content Management: Groups help declutter your main content list by organizing related items together, making it easier to find and manage resources for different projects or initiatives.
- Project Structure: Groups can mirror project teams or departmental structures, providing a logical organization for your GIS work.
By following these steps and defining appropriate permissions, you can effectively use groups in GIS to organize content, facilitate collaboration, and manage sharing for various projects and workflows.
